Adjustable reamer



July 15, 1941. H. c. SATTERTHWAITE 2,249,437

ADJUSTABLE BEAMER Filed March 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l k' if.

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M2, TTRNEYS- H. c. SATTERTAHWAITE ADJUSTABLE REAMER Y Filed March 2, 1958 a sheets-shea; 2 l

.s Nw, R mf f www. a 3 v /r BY Patented July 15, 1941 A UNITED STATES PATENTy `OFFICE y ADJUSTABLE REAMER Harry o.satierihwaite, oakland county, Mich.

Appncation March 2, 193s, serial No. 193,388 1 i 7 6 Claims.

This invention relates to metal working tools, and particularly relates to reamers in which the cutting blades are adjustably and removably attached to the body or holder. 1

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an improved reamerin ,which the cutting blades are individually wedged radially inwardly of the holder adjacent the front thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to blades may be adjustably mounted in the holder.

Another object of the present invention isto Y provide wedging means for the cutting blades of a holder which are relatively inexpensive to manu-facture thereby making the entire assembly economical to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide relatively simple wedging means which are'individually positive in their actionY on each of the cutters so that the fits do not have to be as accurate as in prior structures, thereby facilitating both manufacture'and assembly of the parts.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto, andthe claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several lviews throughout;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away illustrating parts in cross-section,

of a reamer embodying features of the present Y invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away, of the reamer illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of a modified form of the reamer illustratedl in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isl an end elevational view of another modified `form of a reamer embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 5-is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along'the line 55 of Fig. 4;

-Fig.16is a cross-sectional View taken substan- '1 tially along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5; Y

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. iillustrating anotherV modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken substan-V tially along the line 8-8 of Fig. '7

Fig. 9 is a vi'ew similar to Fig. '7 illustrating another modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line lll- I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional Lview of another modified formvofv the present ticularly'to Figs. 1 and 2, a reamer is illustrated' comprising amain body portion or Aholder 20 having the usual tapered shank 22. The holder 20 is providedv with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 241 which may or may not be equallyspaced,A which lie substantially in planes passing through the axis of the holder. The bottoms ofY the slots are tapered with respect lto the-axis ofV the' reamer, asshown in Fig. 1;

and cutter blades 26, with the bottom edges vthereof correspondingly tapered, are received within the s1ots`24. The rear ends of the cutter blades are chamfered at 28, and a locking collar 3B is chamfered yat V3l at its forward face to fit the chamfer 28. 'The collar 30 prevents the blades 26 from movingibackand also prevents themfrom moving radially outwardly atV the inner ends; and is threadedupon the rear ends of the body 2U so as to permit adjustment of the cutters 26. A lock nut 32'with a lock washer 33 are preferably provided to lock the collar 30 in its adjusted positions, Y

- The present invention deals particularly with Elocking the forward ends of the blades 26 against radial expansion. In accordance with the presentinvention, this Vis accomplished by forming, preferablyadjacent the forward end of each blade in one sidel face thereof, a groove 34 of angular sectional configuration as best shown inV Fig-2.A Each groove 34 extends in parallel relationshipl to the bottomedge of its blade.

'I'he body 4member V20 is provided at its front endwith 'a cooperating groove 36 in a side face ofV each slot Y2li',v and in such a position'that the slots 24 'and corresponding grooves 36 are aligned and in communication with each other at the front face. The angularity of the grooves 36 with respect to the axis of the reamer is greater than the angularity of the grooves 34 with respect to the axis of the reamer; and a. ball member 38 is inserted within each cooperating pair of grooves 34 an-d 36 at the front end of the reamer. The size of the grooves 34 and 36 and the ball members 38 are such that because of the different angularity between the grooves 34and 36, the balls 38' will be received approximately only to about or slightly beyond their mid-points in the grooves, the remainder of the balls projecting beyond the forward end face of1the holder 23. rI'he purpose of theyball members 38 is to wedge each of the blades -adjacent-thefor- Ward ends thereof radially inwardlyby Vengage-l ment with the grooves 34 and 36.

In order to individually urge the ball members 33 into wedging position, a holding member 46 in the formof a plate. isremovably attached to` the forward endofvthe holder 2U. The-holding member 4D is provided with a substantially central opening 42 therethrough, through which'a screw 44.is received. 'Ihescrew 44 is provided with a threaded `end 46 which is threadably received within an axially aligned threaded opening 43 `in the holder 20. The screw 44.is `provided with an enlarged smooth cylindrical portion 5l.)V adjacent its head which is received within an axially aligned recess 52 of complementary size and shape in the head. The portion '56 and the opening` 62 are of considerable size so that relatively close iits may be economically attained so that an` even'pressure isapplied to the plate 46 by the head, thus keeping the plate aligned and preventing its tilting. A'

The holding member 46 isr formed with radially extending individually yieldableY fingersY 54, which are adapted to extend outwardlybeyond the ball members 38 and overlie the centers of the ball members. Each one. ofthe fingers 54Y extends' alongside of a corresponding blade 26V, and engages its respective ball 38 and urges the ball into its wedging position. By this structure each of the ball members 38 i'sindividually, yieldably, engaged by one of the fingers and thus individually'urged into Wedging position.` One advantageof this structure, as compared `withprior structures'is that the parts do not have tobeasfl accurately formed as in prior structures as each iinger acts individually on a single ball and thus each ball i'sindividually urgedr into wedging po'- sition independently ofeach other ball. By the individually resilient ngers substantially the same wedging action is applied to each ball, regardless ofsmall variations in dimensions,l of the variousfparts so that the Wedging action on all of the blades is substantially the same.v

Inthis structure, in order to adjust theblades, 26 longitudinally of the holder 28', it is merely necessary to loosen the screw 44'. thus releasing the pressure of the yieldable fingers 54- onthe ball members; and when the ball members 38y are released,v thecutters 2,6 may be movedv longitudir nally of the holder to increase Vor decreasetheV effective diameter of the reamer. The locking.v collar 36may thenjbe advanced sc that thecham fer 28011 the cutters is engaged-tolochtherearl ends` of the cutters radially, inwardly. BY. theny tightening the screw 44,V A the yvi'eldabley fingers of the plate 4U. again.engageftheballmeinbers 38 and-urge. them into vvedgingA position in vthe grooves 34 vr"and 36in-which positiongthey lock.

the outer ends of the blades 26 against radially outward movement as well as retain their rear ends against the collar 30.

In Fig. 3, a structure is illustrated in which the plate member 46 is urged inwardly, so that its yieldable fingers engage the ball members in the same manner as described above, by a longitudinally extending bolt 66, which extends through an axially aligned opening 62 through the body portion 20 andthe shank 22. An accurately aligned, coaxial conical recess 63 is provided through the head of the bolt 60 which may be utilized to center the reamer on a grinding machine when grinding the cutters without removing them from the holder. A nut 64 is threadably received over the threaded inner end ofthe bolt 60; and-by tightening the nut, the head of the-bolt member 50 is drawn in thus forcing the plate member inwardly as dei scribed above.

In Figs. 4 to 6, another modified form of the presentiinvention .is illustrated, in which instead. of providing the grooves 36 ineachof therecesses 24 as described, a. singular annular recess 68 is provided in and concentrically of the forward face of the holder 20. This recess 68 communicates with eachI of the` longitudinally extendingl slots 24 in the head and-also is in such position thatjit communicates withthe grooves in the cutters 2,6'. Also. inthis embodiment, instead of providing the` grooves 3,4' of angular crosssectional configuration inthe cutters26, as. in the embodiment shown inl Figs; 1 andJ 2, a.. groove 16' of substantially semi-circular cross-l Vsectional configuration is provided. 'Ihe curva-l tureV of the groove 68 and the curvature of the grooves 'H1A aregreater than the curvature of the ball'inembers 3.8; and the grooves are so arranged relative' to each other that the inner surface of the balls 38 is engaged'by` the inner edge of the groove'l, as shownin Fig. 4, and the outer edge ofthe balls 38j'is engaged bythe outer edge ofthe groove 68so .that the forward ends of the cutter.` 26; are wedged,A radially inwardly. Also, in this embodiment," in order to give the radially extending Fingers 54a greaterdegree of yyieldability,and alsoto permit twisting l,of the fingers, inwardly directed slots 12 are cut in the holdingmember 40' adjacent the sides of the ngersr5r4f. As the ngersib'ear vagainst 'the' balls, ,each finger twists so that" the ballv is urged'into Athe, grooves 68r and I 0* in wedging,l relation.l

In Figs; 7A and 8; a structure is illustrated, in which in additionto the groove 68 in theholder 20 and thev grooves 10in the cutters 26, a recess 'lljis provided ineachofthe fingers 54adjacent the outer ends thereof and adjacent one edge of each. .The recess I6V is` of a greater curvature than the curvature ofI the ball members 38 andv is so arranged that its outer edge engages the outer surface ofthe ball members 38.- As the ngers 54are yieldable, andas the engagement with` the members .38. is at the outer edge of the recess 16, it is evident that the members- 38.4are, A; individually. urged radially inwardly and alsoaxially'inwardlybyV the ngers. 54, which are preferably-provided with th'eslotsl .12.

Also, in thestructure..illustrated in Figs. 7 andy 8, a screw v44 isiitilizedto holdthe plate.v member 10i 40' f in 'position on the lhead, and the screw., 44, is,

provided vritha co-axial recess- 'l8-;therein, which is .preferably hexagonalin section.x The entrance to this ,recess.through the.Y headis cone, shaped; ashown fil-U19; and-thefconeurface T Szis-.ac-

7&,f;curately centeredgonf-the screw@ This surface e 16;,

is 'used to align the reamer on the centers of a.

grinding machine so that the cutters may be accurately ground.

InjFigs. 9 and 10,-Y another Vmodied structure is illustrated, in which the grooves V36 and 68 in the embodiments described above are dispensed with, and the ball members 38 are forced against the forward face of the holding member 20. j The inner engaging faces of the fingers 54 are curved inwardly, as indicated at 80, and cut back, as

indicated at 82, so that the ball members 38 are engaged adjacent their forward outer, faces and thus urged radially inwardly land against the smooth and unground forward face of the holding member 20, so that the cutters 26 are each one individually urged radially inwardly. In this embodiment, the slots 12 are also provided in the holder 40 so that the fingers 54 may twist.

In Fig. 11, another modified structure is illustrated, in which the head 2u is `provided with' lets may assume wedging positions in the grooves.v

The pellets 84 may be tapered, if desired, and such pellets are urged into their wedging positions by the yieldable ngers 54 on the holding plate member 40.

In Fig. 12, the present invention is illustrated as being applied to a shell reamer in which a longitudinally extending, co-axial opening 88 is provided through the body member 20. A coaxial recess is provided adjacent the forward face of the body portion 28 and is threaded, as indicated at 90. The holding member 40 is also provided with a centrally disposed threaded opening 92 therethrough, the threads 92 being of less pitch than the threads 90. A short tubular holding member 94 is externally threaded with threads 96 extending over a portion adjacent the front of the member 94. The threaded portion 96 is adapted to be received within the threads 90 of the holder 20, and the threaded portion 98 is adapted to be received within the threaded opening 92 of the member 40. As the threads 92 areof less pitch than the threads 90, upon` turning the member 94 the differential action occurringr between the threads 96 and 98 causes the plate member 40 to be drawn up against the ball members 38 which urge the cutters 26 radially inwardly adjacent the fronts thereof.

In Figs. 13 and 14, a line reamer is illustrated embodying features of the present invention, Vin which the cutting blades of the reamer may be axially adjusted.

The line reamer includes an elongated body member which is externally threaded at spaced intervals therealong. The spaces between the threaded portions are provided with the recesses 24 and 25 in main body portions 20 and 2|, respectively, for receiving therein the cutter blades 26 and 21, respectively. The grooves 25 correspond to the grooves 24 and the cutting blades 21 correspond to the cutters 26. Grooves are provided in the cutters 26 and 21, as in the embodiments described above, and an annular groove 8B is provided in the front face of each of the main body portions 20 and 2| as in v desired positions.

and 68 asin the embodiment illustrated in Figs.`

4 to 6, and servel to wedge the forward ends of the cutters 26 and 21 radially inwardly.

A pilot sleeve |02 is received over the threaded portion of the line reamer |0| forward of the body portion 2|. split along the serrated lines |05 (Fig. 14), are disposed within the pilot sleeve |02vforV rotation therewith and are threadably received over the threaded portion 'of the line reamer in the position described. A holding member in the form of a unitary tubular member |06 is received within the pilot member |02 and has axially extending, yieldable fingers |08 which extend toward the forward face of the body portion 2|. The lingers |08 are radially yieldable and are chamfered, as indicated at ||0, and engage the ball members 38 along the chamfered surface, so that as the nut member is threaded axially toward the blades, the lingers` |08 are urged radially outwardly and the b-all members are urged radially inwardly into wedging position. Another pilot member H2, which is similar to 'the pilot member |02 but slightly largerv in size, is'disposed forwardly of the .forward face of the body portion 20. A holding member H6, which is generally similar to the holding member |06, but which is longitudinally split and of correspondingly larger size, is disposed within a sleeve ||1 in press fit relationship; and the sleeve ||1 has substantially the same diameter as the pilot member H2. The member i6 has axially extending, yieldable fingers ||8 with chamfered portions |20 which engage the ball members 38 and force them into wedging position as the members |04 are urged against the members ||6 toward the holder 20. Locking collars 30, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, are also provided which engage the rear edges of the cutters 26 and 21 to urge the rear edges thereof radially inwardly and also for adjusting the cutters 26 and 21 longitudinally of the line reamer. portions |30 of the locking collars 30 and the threaded portions |3| of the lock nuts 32 are constructed the same as the threaded members |05, that is they are split along serrated lines to pro.

vide separable sections.

In order to assemble the line reamer illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, it is merely necessary to place the split-halves of the threaded members |04 on the threaded portions forwardly of the holders 20 and 2|, respectively, in approximately their The pilot sleeves |02 andY I2 which are of slightly greater diameter than the diameters of the holders 20 and v2| may thenV bey slid over the threaded members 104. In order to fix the collars |02 and ||2 to their'respective threaded members |04, inwardly directed lugs |50 are provided on the collars and are engaged in diametrically opposed recesses |52 in the-split` halves of the members |04. By turning the sleeves |02 and ||2,k the threaded members |04 may be moved axially ofthe line reamer |0|. Q The member |00 may bemade solid as therel are -halves of the member ||6 are received within the collar ||1 preferably by a press t and are Threaded members |04, which are The threaded disposed between the members Midland the front face-of theholder 20. The split-membersll and I3l-of the locking collars 30 and lock nutsi32l are assembled in the sametway as the threaded members lll4.- The .threaded members-l30-and ISI are also .fixed relativeto-their outershells by. inwardlydirected Alugs nand `by similar con.

-struction, to `that illustrated at I 50` and I52-for the. pilot members |82Y andl H2.

In order to adjust the cutters Hand 26=of the line reamersll longitudinally of the reamers, it is merely necessary to adjust thepositions of the pilot members H12-andi I2 and the locking collars 30 -threadably .along the threaded outer surface of theline reamer lOl The term communicating, which is used inV the specicationandclaims to dene the relationship of the grooves 24,. 341,v 36, 68 and/or 'I0 as illustrated in the various` embodiments, meansY thatthese grooves have certain portions in common so that when'a member is disposed in the common portions the adjoining walls of the respective grooves may be engaged in the relationship described.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention described without departing Yfrom the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of -which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reamer comprising a-holder having a plurality of slots therein spaced therearound, means forming a communicating groove in said holder which communicates with said slots, a cutter disposed in -each ofsaid slots, each of said cutters having a recess therein adjacent said means, said means and said recess being arranged at different f angles to the longitudinal axis of the cutter, a ball member disposed within each of saidA recesses and said means engaging the holderand its re-v spective cutter to wedge the forward ends of each cutterradially inwardly, and means slidably engaging each of said ball members to urge said ball members into wedging position.

2. A reamer comprising a .holder having a -plurality of slots therein spaced therearound, means forming a communicating grooverin said holder which communicates with each. of said slots, a cutter disposed in each of saidslots, each of said cutters having a recess therein adjacent said means, said meansv and said recess -being arranged at differentY angles to the longitudinal f axis of the cutter, a ball member disposed within each of-.said recesses and .said meansengaging the holderand its-respective cutter to wedge the forward end -of'each -cutter radially inwardly,l a

holding member removably attached -to the for- 3. A reamer comprising a holder having a plui rality of slots therein spaced therearound, means forming a communicating groove in said holder which communicates witlreach of said-slots, a

cutter: disposed-'in each of said slots, each of-said cutters having a recesstherein adjacent said means, said means and said recess being arrangedl at differentlangles Ato the'longitudinal axis-of the cutter,V aball member disposed within VeachfofY said recesses andsaid meansengaging 'the holderand its respective cutter to wedge theforwardendof each cutter-radiallyV inwardly, acholding member removably-attached to the forward face of-said holder, said holding member having radi-v individuallyyieldablefingers ally extending, thereonwhich-slidably-engage each of said-ball members to independentlyurge leach of said ball" members into Wedging position;

4: A-reamer comprising'a holder'having a plu` f cutters havinga recess therein adjacent th'e for# Ward end thereof and adjacentsaid means, said means and said recess being arranged at different angles tothe longitudinal axis of the cutter, 'a' .ball member disposed within each of said recesses' .i and said means engaging the holder and its respective 'cutter to wedge the forward end of each cutter radially inwardly,means having yieldable' fingers slidably engaging each of said ball mem bers to independently urge each of saidball' members into wedging position, and means engaging the rear end of 'each' cutter for adjustably fixingsaid cutters longitudinally of Vsaid holder.

5. A reamer comprising a holder 'having a plurality of slots therein spaced therearound, means `liorming a communicating groove in said holder which communicates with each of'saidslots, a cutter disposed in each of vsaid slots, each of said rcuttersYhaving a recesstherein 'adjacent said means, said means and said recess being arranged at differentVv angles to the longitudinal' axis of the cutter, and a member disposed within each-of said recesses and "said'means engaging the holder and its respective cutter to wedge the forward Vend of each cutter` radially inwardly,

and'individually resilient members slidably en#V gaging each of saidmembers to 'independently which`r communicates withY each of said slots, a

cutter disposed in eachof said slots, each of saidv cutters having a recess therein adjacent' said means, said means and said recess being ar' .ranged at'different angles to the longitudinal axis of the cutter, a member disposed within each of said recesses and said vmeans engaging the holder and its respective cutter to wedge the forward4 end of each cutter radially inwardly,a hold- `ing member removably attached 'to the forward face of Vsaid holder, said holding member having radially extending, individually yieldable ngers thereon which slidably engage each of said first named members to independently urge each'of vsaid'mem-bers into wedging position. 

